Machine for forming screw threads in caps or closures



Dec; 26, 1944. R CQNNELL 2,365,746

MACHINE FOR FORMING SCREW+THREADS IN CAPS OR CLOSURES Filed March 26; 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 .jlialwf vzi Dec. 26, 1944. D. R, CQNNELL 2,365,746

MACHINE .FOR FORMING SCREW-THREQDS IN CAPS OR CLOSURES Filed March 26, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. R. CONNELL Dec. 26, 1944.

MACHINE FOR FORMING SCREW-THREADS IN CAPS OR CLOSQRES Filed March 26, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 26, 1944. D. R. CONNELL 2,365,746

MACHINE FOR FORMING SCREW-THREADS IN CAPS OR CLOSURES s Sheet-Sheet 5 Filed Marc %;/MQb

Patented Dec. 26, 19M:

ch rp star I atta n MACHINE FOR FORMING SCREW THREADS IN CAMPS OR CLOSURES t Daniel lit. Connell, Lowell, Mass, assignor to U. S. Bobbin '& Shuttle Company, Providence, R. 1., a corporation of Rhode Island Application March 26, 1943, Serial No. 480,643

'9 Claims.

' ,The present invention relates to thread-cutting machines and more particularly to a machine for cutting screw-threads in the bores of cylindrical articles, suchas closures or caps for bottles, jars, tubes and the like.

One of the objects ofthe present invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated having' a work-holder and a cutting tool arranged eccentrically to engage the periphery of the tool and the bore in the work tangentially to cut a groove in the latter. I

Another object is to provide a machine'of the type indicated in which the eccentricity of the cutting tool and work-holder maybe adjusted to engage the periphery of the tool with the bore of the work and regulate the depth'of the cut.

Another object is to provide a machine of the type indicated in which-the'tool and work-holder are relatively movable through a helical path to cut a screw-thread in the bore of the work.

Another object is to provide a machine of the type indicated having a magazine for holding a supply of the articles to be threaded and means for transferring the articles one at a time from the magazine to the work-holder;

Another object is to provide amachine of the type indicated which operates automatically to transfer articles'from the magazine to the workholder and relatively move the work-holder and tool to cut the threads in the bore of the-articles. Another object is to provide a machine of the type indicated in which the transferring means and means for relatively moving the work-holder and cutting tool are operated in timed relationship to first transfer an article to the work-holder autornatic'in operation requiring only the supplyi-ng of articles to the magazine;

Further objectslo-f theinvention are set forth in the following: specification which describes a preferredjform oficonstructionof the machine, by way of example, as illustrated by theaccom panying drawings." In the drawings: Fig. i is an elevational view of one side of'a machineincorporating the novel featuresof the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged. elevational; view of the op.- posite side of the machine showing the relationship of thechuck on the feed-shaft and the work-, holder for receiving and clamping a cap-blank therebetween; i

Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine showing the driving means for rotating the feed-shaft; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line it of Fig. 3 showing the means for mounting the feed-operating cam on the cam-shaft; v Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 3

showing the means for mounting the cam-folpath with respect to the peripheryof the cutting tool to-cut an internal thread in'the bore of the Fig. 8 is a-sectional plan View on line 88 of Fig. 7 showing the eccentricity of the axis of the cutting tool with respect to the aXisof the workholder for adapting the periphery of the tool to engage the bore of the cap tangentially thereof;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View through the machine showing the transfer slide for automatically transferring cap-blanks from the magazine to the work-holder;

Fig, 10 is a sectional view on 9 showing the form of the magazine for supporting and feeding cap-blanks into position to be engaged by the transfer slide;

Fig. 11 is a detailed view of the magazine and work-holder showing a cap-blank as being transferred to the latter and a threaded cap as being dis-charged therefrom;

Fig. 12 is a part-sectional plan View of the work-holder and magazine showing the transfer slide in its inoperative position; and

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the transfer slide as in position after being operated to transfer a cap-blank from the magazine to the work-holder.

The machine of the present invention is particularly adapted and designed for cutting screwthreads in the bore of hollow cylindrical articles such as closures or caps for bottles, jars, tubes or the like. As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 10 of the drawings the caps W may have a convex topwall It and a cylindrical flange or skirt 1 depend ing from the top. While a particular form of article to be threaded is illustrated in the present drawings it is t be understood that the machine line new of Fig;

may be employed to cut threads on either the inner or outer surface of cylindrical articles of various types.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the machine may be mounted on a frame having spaced legs 2 and 3 supporting a table or bed 4 bolted to inwardly-directed flanges 5 at the upper ends of the legs. Mounted on the bed or table 4 are spaced bearing-brackets 6 and 1 provided with longitudinal bores 8 and 9, respectively, with their axes located in the same horizontal plane. The bearing brackets 6 and 'l are accurately located in spacedrelationship on the table 4 b means of keys In to maintain the axes of the bores in parallel relationship. The bearing brackets 6 and I are fastened to the table 4 by means of bolts H and the bearing bracket 6 is provided with slots 2 through which the bolts extend to adapt it to be adjusted laterally with respect to the bearing bracket 1, see Fig. 9. For convenience in adjusting the bearing bracket 6 a, thumb-screw I3, see Figs. 2 and 9, ismounted for rotation in a support 4 attached to the side of the table 4 with its end engageable with the side of the bracket.

A tool-arbor l1 extends through the bore 8 in the bearing bracket 6 and is mounted for rotation in anti-friction bearings 8 therein, see Fig. 2. The tool-arbor projects beyond the ends of the bearing bracket 6 which are provided with oil-retaining rings 9 and 20 surrounding the peripheries of the projecting ends of the arbor. .A circular cutting tool 2| mounted on the forward end of the arbor I! has teeth on its periphery of a form suitable for cutting thread grooves in the bore of the cap-blank W. The opposite end of the tool-arbor mounts a pulley 22 which may be driven from a pulley 23 on the shaft of a motor 24 by means of a belt 25, see Fig. 1. IAS illustrated in the present drawings, the motor 24 is mounted on a platform or bracket 26 supported on the inside of the leg 2 of the frame. Thus the tool-arbor l1 and cutting tool 2| at its inner end may be continuously driven at relatively high speed from the motor 24.

The bearing bracket 1 mounts a work-holder 3|] and feed-shaft 3| located with their axes in laterally offset or eccentric relation to the axis of the tool-arbor H, see Figs. 1, 2 and 8. The work-holder 30 comprises a rectangular plate mounted vertically on a pair of rods 32 and 33 extending at right-angles to the plane of the plate, see Figs. 3, 9 and 11. The rods 32 and 33 extend through and are adapted to slide in bosses 34 projecting forwardly from the bearing bracket 1, and at the rear of bosses 34 the sides of the bracket have recesses 35 for receiving the rods. The work-holder 30 is yieldingly held in its retracted position illustrated in Fig. 2 by means of springs 36 surrounding the rods and acting between the bosse 34 and collars '31 fastened to the.

end of the rods. As shown most clearly in Figs. 6, '7 and 11, the work-holder plate 30 has a central opening 40 in which is mounted an annulus or ring 4| journaled in a ball-bearing 42. The ring 4| has a groove 43 at the forward edge of its inner circumference for engagement with the outer periphery of the skirt f of the cap-blank W as shown in Fig. 7. The forward end of the toolarbor l1 and the cutting tool 2| extend through the central opening of the ring 4| in position for the tool to engage tangentially with the inner surface of the skirt 1 of the cap-blank W, see Fig. 8.

Mounted on the side of the work-holder plate 30 are a pair of opposed centeringjaws 44 and ,The jaws 44 and 45 are provided with abutments 49 at their outer ends which extend laterally for cooperation with the sides of the guides 41 to limit the inward movement of the jaws toward each other. The jaws 44 and 45 are yieldingly urged inwardly toward each other by springs 50 seated in pockets 5| in the jaws and acting between the bottom of the pockets and pins 52 mounted in flat strips 53 fastened to the plate 30 at the top and bottom thereof, see Fig. 1. The jaws 44 and 45 thus are urged inwardly toward each other to yieldingly engage their inner recessed ends 46 with the opposite sides of a capblank W, but are adapted to be retracted against the action of the springs 50 to release the cap. The sides of each jaw 44 and 45 adjacent the circular recess 46 are beveled to provide cam-faces 54 and the lower rearward edge of each jaw adjacent the circular recess also is beveled to provide a cam-face 55.

The feed-shaft 3| extends through the bore 9 in the bearing bracket 1 and is mounted for rotation and axial movement in bushings 59 and 60 in the bore, see Fig. 6. The shaft 3| is arranged in axial alinement with the axis of the ring 4| of the work-holder 30 and its reduced end 6| is threaded to receive a chuck 62 screwed onto the threads. The chuck 62 is formed with a concaved recess 63 corresponding to the convex curvature of the top of the cap-blank W for engagement therewith. An insert 64 of resilient material such as rubber is positioned in an annular groove in .the concaved recess of the chuck for gripping engagement with the top of the cap-blank W. The edge of the chuck 62 surrounding the recess 63 is beveled to provide an annular cam-face 58 for cooperation with the cam-faces 55 at the inner ends of the jaws 44 and 45. The chuck 62 is held in adjusted position on the threaded end 6| of the shaft 3| by means of a check-nut 65.

Mounted on the end of the feed-shaft 3| which projects rearwardly from the bearing bracket 1 is a splined pinion-gear 66. The pinion-gear 66 is preferably keyed to the reduced end of the shaft 3| and clamped in place thereon by means of a nut 61. Intermediate its ends the feed-shaft 3| is formed with screw-threads 68 which mesh with the threads of a stationary nut 69 mounted in a recess in the bearing bracket 1 to cause the shaft to advance axially as it is rotated. The nut 69 has a flat bottom face 10 which cooperates with a correspondingly-shaped seat 1| in the bearing bracket 1 to prevent its rotation and the nut is split to adapt it to be adjusted by a set-screw 12 to compensate for wear and prevent backlash of the shaft. The axial advance of the shaft 3| acts to clamp the cap-blank W between the chuck 62 and the ring 4| of the work-holder and thereafter move the clamped blank forwardly with respect to the cutting tool 2|, see Fig. 7.

Extending longitudinally through an axial bore 13 in the feed-shaft 3| is an ejector-rod 14. The rearward end of the ejector-rod 14 is engageable with an adjustable abutment 15 in the form of a set-screw, see Fig. 2, in the depending end of a bracket 16 fastened to the top of the bearing bracket 1. The forward end of the ejector-rod portion mounted to reciprocate in a box-like bearing'comprising a channelrshaped-member I I6 attached to the table 4 by screws I I8 with a cover II'i fastened to the side walls of the member by screws H9. At the end of the slide H l is a vertical stanchion H with spaced bearing apertures in whicha pair of rods HI and I22 are slidably the; chuck 62 as the latter is withdrawn rearwardly.

Thefeed-shaft 3! is caused to be rotated by ,a

segment-gear {i2v mounted for oscillation on a stud 83, see Figs. 1. and 3, supported by a bracket 84 bolted to the under side of the table a of the machine frame. The teeth; on the periphery of the segment-gear 82 mesh with the teeth of the pinion-gear 66 on the feed-shaft 39. The hub 85 of :the segment-gear 82 projects laterally therefrom .at one side and mounted fast thereon is a crank-armfit. Adjustably mounted in a slot 81 at theend of the crank-arm 8G is a stud 88 carrying a follower-roll t9 journaled thereon, see Figs. 3 and 5. r The "segment-gear 82 normally is rocked in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, by a spring dilconnected at one end to a member 9| fastened to its rim and anchored at its opposite end on a pin '92 projecting'laterally from the leg 3 of the machine frame. The segment gear 82 is caused to be rocked positively in counterclockwise direction by cam-means, later to be described,-which operates on: the followerroll til and arm 36. I r

The cap-blanks W to be threaded are delivered from a magazine .95 mounted'on a bracket at on the table 4 of the machine frame at one 'side of the work-holder 3! see Figs. 1 and 9. The magcap-blanks in reversed position in the raceway is prevented. i I

As shown inFig. 9, the side flange 98 of the magazine 95 extends only to the bottom edge'of the upper guide-bracket ll on'the work-holder While the opposite side flange 99 has a slot or opening H16 in its side in substantial alinement with the opening between the opposed ends of the jaws M and it. Mounted on the backplate ill of themagazine 95 by means of screws Illli is an L-shaped bracket itii provided with a ledge or shelf I169 which forms a bottom for the magazine raceway adjacent the work-holder 36 and a vertical side flange i llfor guiding the cap-blanks W as they are transferred to the work-holder til. .Mounted on the vertical flange IIii. of the bracket I08 is a yieldable .det'ent ill, see Fig. 13; in the form of a plunger-pin actuated by a helical spring H2 in a pocket lit for re straining the lowermost cap-blank W from movemounted. The pusher-element H5 comprises an upright portion H23 with bearing apertures through which the rods iZi and E22 project and a horizontally-extending blade-portion H t of rectangular shape adapted to reciprocate in the opening H36 in the sid flange 99 of the magazine 95. Thus the stanchion iii!) of the transfer slide I I mounts the rods I2! and IE2 which, in turn, mount the pusher I to. Extending between the upright portion I23 of the pusher I i5 and the stanchion H20 on the slide H l is a helical spring I26 held in suitable pockets at its ends and adapted to yieldingly maintain the pusher in advanced relation on the slide. The forward movement of the pusher M5 on the slide lid is limited by cross-pin l2! at the ends of the rods iEI and I22 engaging the sides of the stanchion lit and the pusher. As shown in Figs. ll'to 13 the upright portion I23 of the pusher H5 has a groove 128 adjacent the blade i524 to provide. a clearance for the side flange 99 of the magazine adjamerit toward the work-holder ad, but yielding to' permit a blank to be transferred from the magazine 95 to the work-holder til by positive action thereagainst.

The cap bl'anks W are deliveredto the work"- holder 39 from the-magazine iii? by a transfer slide. H4 carrying a pusher element M5 yield ingly mounted thereon, see Fig.9: The trans fer" slide. H1 is formed with, a rectangular base cent the opening W6.

The transfer slide H4 is arranged to be reciprocated by a lever 53!) pivoted intermediate its ends ona bracket MI fastened to the under side of the table ll of the machine frame by screws E32. The upper end of the lever I38 is connected to the slide M4 by a pair of links itil'while the lower end of the lever carries a follower roll I34 for actuation by means later tobe described. Upon rocking movement of the lever 363 in counterclockwise direction from the position shown in full lines to that indicated by dash-lines in Fig.9, the transfer slide lid and pusher H5 will be moved forward to cause the blade 2 3 to enter .the slot H26 in the side 99 of the magazine andadvance the'lowermost cap-blank W from the magazine into the work-holderafil in the manner indicated in Fig. 11. A chute i35 for receiving the threaded closure-caps discharged from the work-holder 39 and delivering them from the machine is mounted on a bracket I36 fastened to the table It at the opposite sideof' the work-holder from the magazine 95.

The transfer slide He and feed-shaft 3i are operated in timed relation to each other by cams M0 and MI, respectively, mounted on a continuously-driven cam-shaft Hi2. As shown in Fig. l, thecam-shaft M2 is journaled in hearings in a depending arm MS of the supporting bracket 84 and a second bearing bracket I M, depending from the table it of the machine frame. The cam -shaft M2 is driven continuously at low speed from a motor 545 through reduction gearing in a casing Hi8. bracket it! fastened to the leg 2 of the machine frame and has a relatively small pulley M8. on

its shaft which drives a larger pulley I 9 fast.

on a worm-shaft E50 of the reducing gearing by means of a belt lot. The worm-shaft I58 has a worm-gear i5i fast thereon which meshes with a worm-wheel I52 on the cam-shaft M2. The worm-shaft wi l, worm-gear Ifil and worm-wheel I52 are enclosed in the casing M6 and constitute.

a self -contained unit mounted on a platform I53 supported from the leg 2 of the machine frame.

The cam Mil, see Fig. 9, has its hub 255 pinned to the cam-shaft m2 and arranged with its pe- The motor l-tii is mounted on a.

ripheral edge engaged by the follower-roll I34 on the lever I30. The follower-roll I34 is yieldingly held in engagement with the peripheral edge of the cam I40 b means of a spring I59 connected to a screw-eye I60 on the lever, and anchored to a screw-eye I| on the bracket I3I. The periphery of the cam I40 has a dwell extending aroundsubstantially two-thirds of its pe riphery which permits the lever I30 to remain in its inoperative position shown by full lines in Fig. 9, and a lobe extending through substantially one-third of its periphery for actuating the lever through an operative stroke to the position indicated by dash-lines.

The cam |4|' is in the form of a sheet-metal plate arranged with its peripheral edge engaged by the follower-roll 89 on the actuating arm 85 of the segment-gear 82, see Fig. 3. The cam MI is mounted on the reduced threaded end I 62 of a hub I58 pinned to the cam-shaft I 42, see Fig. 4, and held rotatively therewith by means of dowelpins I 63 in the end of the hub. The cam MI is clamped against the shoulder I54 on the hub by means of a nut I65 screwed onto its reduced threaded end. The cams 40 and I 4| may take other forms, but as herein illustrated the cam I40 is designed to actuate the transfer slide II4 to transfer a cap-blank W from the magazine 95 to the work-holder 30 during approximately onethird of a revolution of the cam-shaft I42 while the actuating arm 86 and the segment gear 82 remain inactive. The rotation of the cam MI is then rendered operative to oscillate the crankarm 85 and segment gear 82 to successively rotate the feed-shaft 3| in opposite directions during approximately two-thirds of a rotation of the cam-shaft 42 while the transfer slide H4 and pusher I I dwell in the inoperative position illustrated in Fig. 9. One form of the invention having been described in detail, the mode of operation of the complete machine is explained as follows. I

To adapt the machine for cutting threads on the interior of the skirts f of the cap-blanks W the bearing bracket 5 may be adjusted laterally with respect to the bearing bracket 1 by loosening the screws I and turning the adjusting screwl3, see Figs. 2 and 9. The adjusting screw I3 is turned until the eccentricity of the axis of the tool-arbor H with respect to the axis of the work-holder ring 4| is such as to cause the periphery of the cutting tool 2| to engage the interior of the skirt of the blank W tangentially to cut a thread groove of the proper depth therein. During the lateral adjustment of the bearing bracket 5 the key I0 holds the bracket from turning whereof to maintain the axis of the toolarbor parallel to the axis of the work-holder ring 4|. When properly adjusted the bearing bracket 6 is clamped to the table 4 of the machine frame by tightening the screws I I.

The electric motor 24 may be energized by closing a suitable switch, not herein shown, to cause it to drive through the belt 25 to rotate the tool-arbor I! at a high rate of speed. A supply of cap-blanks W is inserted manually into the magazine raceway 95 through its open top with the edges of their skirts f adjacent the back plate 91. The cap-blank W thus will be caused to drop by gravity in the magazine raceway 95 to position the lowermost blank on the ledge I09 of the bracket I08 in alinement with the blade I24 of the pusher H5. The electric motor I45 then may be energized to start the thread-cutting operation.

Upon energization of the electric motor I45 the pulley I48 on the end of its shaft will drive through the belt I54 to rotate the pulley I49 and shaft I50 of the reduction gearing in the casing I46, see Fig. 1, and the worm-gear I5I on the shaft I50 will drive the worm-wheel I52 to rotate the cam-shaft I42 at a relatively slow rate of speed. During the turning of the cam-shaft I42 the cam I40 will be rotated in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 9, to cause its lobe to rock the lever I30 from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 9 to that indicated in dashlines. The rocking movement of the lever I30 thus will be transmitted through the links I33 to actuate the transfer slide 4 and pusher II5 through an operative stroke. Operation of the transfer slide 4 and pusher II5 will cause the blade I 24 of the pusher to slide through the opening I05 in the side flange 99 of the raceway or magazine 95 and across the latter to push the lowermost cap-blank W laterally from the magazine toward the work-holder 30, the detent-pin I I I yielding to permit passage of the blank thereacross. If for any reason the cap-blank W should jam or otherwise be prevented from moving from the magazine 95 the spring I26 will yield to permit continued movement of the transfer slide II4 relatively of the pusher ||5 so as to prevent breakage of or damage to the parts.

During the transfer of the cap-blank W from the magazine 95 to the work-holder 30 the forward side of the blank will engage the oppositely beveled cam-faces 54 on the centering jaws 44 and 45 to cause the latter to separate against the action of the springs 50 in the manner indicated in Fig. 11. At the end of the operative stroke of the pusher II5 the cap-blank W will be located between the arcuate recesses 45 in the opposed ends of the jaws 44 and 45 and the jaws will be forced toward each other by the springs 50 to clamp them against the blank and hold it in axial alinement with the ring 4|. As the rounded point of the lobe of the cam I40 rides past the follower I34 the spring I59 will rock the lever I30 in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 9, from the position indicated by dash-lines to that illustrated in full lines to return the transfer slide 4 and pusher 5 to their inoperative position. Upon retraction of the pusher-blade I24 from the magazine 95 the cap-blanks W stacked in the raceway will drop by gravity to position the lowermost blank in alinement with the blade. The reciprocation of the transfer slide 4 and pusher ||5 through'their operative and return strokes will occur during approximately one-third of a revolution of the cam-shaft Immediately upon completion of the transfer of a cap-blank W to the jaws 44 and 45 of the work-holder 30 the cam I4| on the cam-shaft I42 will operate to rock the crank-arm to rotate the segment-gear 82 connected thereto in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. During the rotation of the segment-gear 82 in counterclockwise direction the pinion-gear 66 and feed-shaft 3| will be rotated in clockwise direction. Due to the meshing engagement of the screw-threads 68 On the feed-shaft 3| with the threads in the nut 69, see Fig. 6, the rotation of the shaft will cause a simultaneous forward axial movement thereof. Axial movement of the feedshaft 3| will engage the concaved face 63 of the chuck 62 with the top h of the cap-blank W andv the beveledend iiil of the chuck will engage the cam-faces 55 of the jaws M and 45 to withdraw them from the sides of the blank. l

The forward movement of the feed-shaft 3| acts finally to clamp the cap-blank W between shaft continues to rotate whereby to cause the cutting tool to cut a helical thread-groove t in the inner surface of the skirt f of the blank. During the combined axial and rotary movement of the cap-blank W the rods 32 and 33 of the work-holder til will slide in the bosses 3d of the bearing bracket, '5 against the action of the springs 36 and the ring l! will rotate freely in the ballbearing 42 in the work-holder.

At the end of the rotary movement of the feedshaft ill in clockwise direction as controlled by the shape of the cam HM, see Fig. 3, the cutting tool ill will have completed the cutting of the thread-groove t in the interior of the skirt f of the blank W as indicated in Fig. 8. At this point, due to the receding profile of the cam i l! the spring Qilwill rock the segment-gear 82 in the opposite or clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, while the follower-roll BQ-travels in a di- H is controlled by the receding profile of the cam Mi as it rotatesin counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig, 3, the cam being operative during substantially two-thirds of a revolution of the cam-shaft M2 to cause the feed-shaft 3! to be advanced through its forward and return strokes.

During the remaining one-third revolution of the cam-shaft M2 the crank-arm 86 and segmentgear 82 have a dwell with the follower-roll 89 riding on the concentric portion of the cam Mi. The feed-shaft 3i thus will be caused to remain at rest while each cap-blank Wis inserted into the work-holder and the finished cap ejected therefrom in the manner as next explained.

-After the completion of a thread-cutting operation the cam Hit, see Fig. 9, again operates to illustrated in Fig. 11 to eject it therefrom. The" discharged threaded cap will then fall by gravity through the chute 535 to be received in a suitable receptacle placed therebeneath. The machine continues t operate in the manner explained rection toward the axis of the cam. Rocking movement of the segment-gear 32 in clockwise direction will rotate the feed-shaft 3| in counterclockwise direction and the meshing engagement of the screw-threads E8 on the shaft with the threads in the nut 68 will cause the shaft to be withdrawn axially to return it to its initial position, see Figs. 6 and '7. During such rearward axial movement of the feed-shaft 3i the springsifi will act between the collars 3'! on the supporting rods 32 and 33 and the bosses 3.4 of the bearing bracket 1 to slide the work-holder 3B rearwardly with the chuck E2 to retain the capblank W clamped between the ring ll and the chuck. Since the axial movement of the feedshaft 3! is proportional to its rotary movement as controlled by the pitch of the screw-threads 68 the threaded cap will be moved rearwardly through the same path as during its forward movement. That is to say, as the threaded cap is moved rearwardly to retract it from the tool 2| it is rotated in the opposite direction from that in which it is turned to cut the thread so that the tool Will ride out of the threads in a direction the reverse of that during the threadcutting operation. Adjacent the end of the retractive movement of the feed-shaft? the rearward face of the work-holder will engage the forward side of the bosses lid on the bearing bracket 1 whereby to permit relative movement of the chuck 62 with respect to the work-holder to release the cap from the chuck, see Fig. 6. At the instant the chuck 62 is withdrawn from the cam-faces on the jaws it and t5 the jaws will be closed against the cap to clamp against and yieldably hold it in fixed position.

To insure disengagement of the threaded cap from the chuck 62 the rearward end of the ejector rod M is arranged to engage the adjustable abutment '55 during the rearward axial movement of the feed-shaft iii to cause its head TI to be projected forwardly through the chuck to positively eject the threaded cap therefrom. The rotary above to transfer cap-blanks W from the magazine 95 to the work-holder 3% during substantially one-third of a revolution of the cam-shaft I42 and to clamp the cap-blank and move it relatively to the rotating cutting tool 2i during substanand rearward axial movement of the feed-shaft tially two-thirds of a revolution of the cam-shaft.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a threadcutting machine in which the periphery of the rotating cutting tool engages the interior surface of the skirt of a cap-blank tangentially as the blank is moved with respect tothe tool to cut a thread therein. It also will be observed that the present invention provides a machine which is automatically operative to feed and thread cap blanks, requiring only the supplying of blanks to the magazine. It still further will be observed that the machine of the present invention is positive in its operation and requires little or no attention on the part of the operator.

Whilea preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood. that modifications may be made i in the form and construction of the parts thereof without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a machine of the type indicated, means for supporting a cylindrical work-piece, means for rotating the work-piece in a certain direction, a rotary tool for cutting a groove in the work-piece, means for rotating the tool, means for relatively moving the cutting tool and work-supporting means to cut a screw-thread in the Work-piece, means operative thereafter for relatively moving the tool and work-support to disengage the tool from the work-piece, and means for simultaneously rotating the work-piece in the opposite direction from that first mentioned to free the tool from the threads in the Work-piece.

2. In a machine of the type indicated, a workholder for mounting a cap-blank having a hollow cylindrical'skirt, a cutting tool mounted for rotatangentially thereof, means for rotating the cutting tool, means for simultaneously rotating and axially moving the work-holder in one direction to cut a screw-thread in the skirt of the blank, and means for rotating the work-holder in the opposite direction upon completion of the threadcutting operation and simultaneously withdrawing it from the tool to free the latter from the threads in the blank.

3. In a machine of the type indicated, a workholder for supporting a cap-blank having a hollow cylindrical .skirt, a magazine for holding a supply of blanks, means for transferring a blank from the magazine to the work-holder, a cutting tool mounted for rotation about an axis eccentric to the axis of the work-holder to adapt the periphery of the tool to engage the interior of the skirt of the blank, means for rotating the cutting tool, feeding means for simultaneously rotating and axially moving the work-holder with respect to the cutting tool to cut a helical thread in the interior of the blank, means for operating the transferring means and feeding means in timed relation to first transfer a, blank to the work-holder and thereafter cut the thread in the skirt thereof, and means for rotating the work holder in the opposite direction from that first mentioned and simultaneously withdrawing it from the tool to release the latter from the threads in the blank.

4. In a machine of the type indicated, a workholder for supporting a cap-blank having a hollow cylindrical skirt, a magazine for holding a supply of blanks, a reciprocable slide for transferring blanks laterally from the magazine into alinement with the work-holder, a cutting tool mounted for rotation about an axis eccentric to the axis of the work-holder to adapt its periphery to engage the interior of the skirt of the blank, means for rotating the cutting tool, feeding means for simultaneously rotating and axially moving the work-holder with respect to the cutting tool to out a thread in the interior of the skirt of the blank, and means for operating the reciprocable slide and feeding means in timed relation to first transfer a blank to the work-holder and thereafter cut the thread in the skirt thereof.

5. In a machine of the type indicated, a workholder for supporting a cap-blank having a hollow cylindrical skirt, a magazine for holding a supply of blanks, means for transferring blanks from the magazine to the work-holder, a cutting tool mounted for rotation about an axis eccentric to the axis of the Work-holder to adapt the periphery of the tool to engage the interior of the skirt of the blank, means for rotating the cutting tool, feeding means for simultaneously rotating the Work-holder in one direction and feeding it axially with respect to the tool to cut a helical thread in the skirt of the blank, 3, cam-shaft, cams on the cam-shaft for operating the transferring means and feeding means in timed relation to first transfer a blank to the work-holder and thereafter cut the thread in the skirt thereof, and means for rotating the work-holder in the all) opposite direction from that first mentioned and simultaneously withdrawing it from the tool to release the latter from the threads in the blank.

6. In a machine of the type indicated, a chuck, a work-holder for cooperation with the chuck to clamp a cylindrical blank in axial alinement with the chuck, a magazine for holding a supply of blanks, means for transferring a blank from the magazine into position between the chuck and the work-holder, a cutting tool mounted for rotation about an axis eccentric to the axis of the work-holder to adapt the periphery of the tool to engage the blank tangentially thereof, means for rotating the cutting tool, a pinion-gear for rotating the chuck, a segment-gear in meshing engagement with the pinion-gear, means for oscillating the segment-gear to rotate the chuck, and means for moving the chuck axially during rotation thereof whereby to clamp the blank to the work-holder and feed it. relatively to the cutting tool to cut a thread in the blank.

7. In a machine of the type indicated, a chuck, a Work-holder having an opening therein, a ring mounted for rotation in the opening of the workholder, said chuck adapted to cooperate with the ring t clamp a cylindrical blank therebetween, a magazine for holding a supply of blanks, means for transferring a blank from the magazine into position between the chuck and the ring, a cutting tool mounted for rotation about an axis eccentric to the axis of the chuck to adapt the periphery of the tool to engage the blank tangentially thereof, means for rotating the cutting tool, means for operating the chuck to clamp a blank to the ring of the work-holder and there'- after move theblank relatively of the cutting tool, and cams for operating the transferring means and chuck in timed relation.

8. In a machine of the type indicated, a W0l'k-' ing relative feeding movement between the blank and cutting tool to cut a helical thread in the blank.

9. In a machine of the type indicated, a chuck, a work-holder for supporting a 'blank concentrically of the chuck, a magazine for holding a supply of blanks, a slide for transferring the blanks from the magazine to the work-holder, means for moving the chuck to engage the blank held in the work-holder, a cutting tool, means to actuate the chuck to rotate the blank held in the work-holder, means for relatively feeding the blank and tool to cut a thread in the blank, and means to reciprocate the slide to transfer a blank from the magazine to the work-holder and simultaneously eject a previously-threaded blank therefrom.

' DANIEL R. CONNELL. 

